«You Can't Move the Olympic Games Like a Football Match», Says IOC President

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, once again commented on the possibility of postponing or canceling the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“You can’t move the Olympic Games like a football match that is supposed to take place next Saturday. It is a very complex process that should be approached with substantial reasoning. We are examining all possibilities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The cancellation of the Games would destroy the dreams of 11,000 athletes from 206 national Olympic committees and refugee teams. Canceling them would not be a fair decision,” Bach's words were cited by the German SWR.

So far, the Japanese government and the IOC have not announced any postponement of the Games. Many athletes believe that their training processes have already been disrupted. One of the options being considered is to hold the Games in the autumn. The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 24 to August 8.